Folding chair



Nov. 10, 1953 G. w. 'CARLSON FOLDING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed sept. 7, 1951 INVENTOR GusTAF WCAQLSCN )ffm/jmdm v @mb/awa ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1953 G. w. CARLSON FOLDING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1951 Patented Nov. 10, 1953 4UNITED ASTAT ES PATENT OF FICE '2,658,558 FoLDNG citent Gustaf lCarlson, Woburn; Mass'. Appiicatioii september 7, 1155i, v:sereniuit. isfois 4 claims; (o1. 15s-inc) i 'riiis invention relates` to en improved foldiii'g chair which ceri be unfolded from acompcot folded condition to a chain-'forming `'condition and 'changed fron'i the chaireicriig condition vto e condition in which it provides e, cot ci table. l VIt is miiorigV jtric objects of the 'inv'c'ntifoii to prcvideen improved folding chair which can ce easily u iiioided -fi-o'm a compicteiy fonico,

"Cinp't Conditntb a chair-forming condition and can then be changed to a cot dr table formling renditiony and is gravity sujstairicanin its Achairfrning' and cot-forming conditions; which has Stop means precluding movement bef youd its `ciro-fo'ruling condition; which has rio cross barsv or rods' intermediate the outer ends V"of the back and sect forming portions thereof;

which is especially constructed to rest solidly on uneven ground; and which is simple and duabl in construction, 'of light weight and economical to manufacture, easy lto' use; and neat and attractive in appearance. l g

@ther objects'and advantages will become ap'- -paren't from a consideration of the following description andthe appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying' drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a folding chair illustrative of the invention shown in'cliair- `forming condition;

Figure 2 isr a rear elevational View of the chair as illustrated in Figure 1';

yFigure 3 is a side elevational View of the chair when in cot orta'ble-forming condition;

g Figure `4V is a top `plan yiew of the chair as illustrated in Figure 3 with portions broken away ,and shown 'in cross section to better illustrate theuconstructionthereof;

I Figure 5 is a' fragmentary cross sectional View onwthel line-5 5 of Figure v3; i .Figure 6 is a side elevational View of the chair when in partly folded condition; Y

Figure '7 is a planviewwofhthe chair when in completely folded condition; and Figure is a cross sectional view on the line `szfiior Figure 7. l

with continued reference to' the" drawings, the chair ycomprises a plurality ofA U-js'hapd frames formed of light weight `ie'ta'l tubing, `such as one-inch diameter steel tubing, and includes in nerand outer leg forming frames Il) and I I, a back frame I2, a front ground engaging frame I3, and a seat forming lframe I4. The chair also includes a pair of arms I5 and I6, preferably formed of wood or some material which d oes not become uncomfortably hot when exposed to the sun in the summertime, and a. seat 2 and jbak web I'I formed of a suitable heavy fab'- rio, such iiicdium oiheavy weight canvas.

The leg frames I0 and II are pivotally interconnected intermediate the length of their legs, -bysuitable pivot boltsy 'o'r rivets I8 and I9, these bolte b 'eing disposed somewhat nearer the open than the closed ends of the frames. The outer ieg frame Il is somewhat longer .than the inner leg frame IU and has its legs longitudinally curved, as indicated at 2n in Figure 1, near the open end of the frame. The inner ieg forming Vframe Iii has a v-sha'ped brace 2| therein, the apex "of which is connected to the closed end of this frame Substantially at the midle'ngth loc'ation of the latter by suitablemeans,` such as the rivet 22, and the ends of which are connected to the legs of the frame by the .pivot bolts I8 andi I9. This brace 2| maintains the legs of tne'leg forming frames I0 and II spaced apart a predetermined distance and substantially parallel to 'each other at the respectively opposite sides of the frames.

Eachfof the arms I5 and I5 comprises a fiat top platen, of rectangular shape, and a rail 2'4 extending 'along the under side of the top plate media'lly of the width of the latter and secured to the top plate by suitable means, such as the'bolts 25; t.

The arm I5 is pivotally connected at its rear end to the' upper or free end of one. of the, legs of the leg iforining frame II by a pivotbolt or rivet 26. The arm I5 is pivotally connected at its Vrearl end to the upper orfree end of fthe other legni the outer frame II by a pivot bolt orrivet 21;

A forwardly declining link 28 is pivotally, con'- nected a't one its depressed or forwarden'd to one leg of ,the inner leg forming framell) at the upperior free end thereof and is Vpivotally con.- nected at itselevated orrear end to the rail of theyarmk 4I5 .at a location spaced forwardly along the' "arm from the pivot bolt orrivet 26 by a 'bolt or riverl 29,- the bolt or rivet' being located s'ubstantially midway between the upper ends of the legs of the,v frames II! and II, in the unfolded condition; ofthe chair. A similar and complementary 'linl 30 :is p'ivotal'lyA connected `at one end to' the other leg of theframe I0 at the, open end of this frame and is pivotally connected at'V its other end to the arm I6 by a pivot `pin or bolt spaced the same, distance from the pi'VOt bolt 21 aS 'the pn OI' 'bolt 29 iS spaced fl'Oll'I.

the bolt or rivet 26. A

The closed ends or bight portions of the leg frames I0 and I'I are bent o1` curved symmetrically of the frames so that these bight portions have convex outer surfaces or edges to firmly support the chair in upright position on uneven ground, and these leg forming frames, when in chair supporting position, support the arms I and I6 in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other and in a substantially horizontal position, the rails of the arms resting at their bottom edges on the upper or free ends of the legs of the frame I0, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1, to provide this support.

The legs of the back forming frame I2 are pivotally connected to the arms I5 and I6 at points spaced from the free ends of the legs of the back frame I2 and spaced forwardly on the arms a short distance from the pivot bolts 26 and 21.

The legs of the U-shaped front frame I3 are pivotally connected at their free ends to the forward ends of the arms I5 and I6. The rear or free ends of the legs of the U-shaped seat formf,

ing frame I4 are pivotally connected to the lower or free ends of the legs of the back frame I2. At its forward closed end the seat forming frame I4 is pivotally connected to the legs of the front frame I3 at a location spaced below the pivotal connections between the legs of the front frame and the arms I5 and I6 equal to the distance between the pivotal connection between the legs of the back frame I2 and the arms I5 and I6 and the location at which the legs of the seat frame f' I4 are secured to the legs of the back frame I2 so that the legs of the seat frame I4 are disposed one adjacent each of the arms I5 and I6 and are maintained substantially parallel to the corresponding arms in all positions of the back,

seat and front frames relative to the arms.

A continuous back and seat forming web I'I is secured at its ends to the bight portions of the back frame I2 and the seat frame I4 and is secured along its side edges to the legs of the back and seat frames at locations spaced from the pivotal connections between these frames.

The means connecting the legs of the back frame I2 and the seat frame I4 together comprise pivot bolts or rivets 3| and 3| which do not extend between the frame legs transversely of the frames but terminate adjacent to the inner sides of the legs of the seat frame which are disposed against the inner sides of the corresponding legs of the back frame, while the means pivotally connecting the seat frame at its closed end to the legs of the front frame I3 comprises a rod 32 which extends through the tubular end closing portion of the seat frame and through apertures in the legs of the front frame I3, as is particularly `illustrated in Figure 4.

Stops in the form of knobs 33 and 34 are secured on the pivot bolts and 3I respectively at the outer sides of the legs of the back frame I2 for engaging the under sides of the corresponding arms I5 and I6 to prevent further movement of the back frame I2 and seat frame I4 relative to the arms once these frames have been moved to the cot or table forming positions illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

Assuming that the chair is in the chair forming condition illustrated in Figure 1 and it is desired to change it to the cotv or table forming condition illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the upper closed end of the back frame I2 is merely pulled downwardly and rearwardly until the stops 33 and 34 contact the under sides of the corresponding arms I5 and I 6 limiting further rearward and downward movement of the back frame. This will swing the seat frame I4 and the front frame I3 upwardly and forwardly from the horizontal position of the seat frame and the substantially vertical position of the front frame illustrated in Figure 1 to a substantially horizontal position of the seat frame and a substantially horizontal position of the front frame, as illustrated in Figure 3, the frames I2, I3 and I4 all then being disposed in substantially end to end relationship and substantially horizontal to form a cot or table. By reason of the leverage between the legs of the back frame, the arms and the seat and front frames, the weight of the body of a person reposing on the back of the chair when the latter is in horizontal position, will maintain the seat and front frames substantially horizontal.

If it is now desired to reduce the chair to a compact condition for storage or transportation. the closed end of the back frame is raised to its substantially vertical position and then is swung downwardly and forwardly until this frame is disposed between the arms I5 and I6. This will move the seat frame I4 upwardly between the arms and will swing the front frame I3 upwardly to a horizontal position against the seat frame I4, the ends of the arms to which the front frame is attached being raised sufliciently to bring the leg forming frames I0 and II out of the way of the closed end of the front frame as the latter is folded against the seat frame I4. After the back, seat and front frames have been folded to a position in which they are superposed one on the other and are substantially parallel to the arms I5 and I6, the outer leg forming frame I4 is moved downwardly and rearwardly relative to the arms until the links 28 and 30 swing around their pivotal connections with the arms bringing the closed end of the inner leg forming frame I0 between the legs of the outer leg forming frame II near the open end of the latter frame. With the frame I0 then disposed within the frame II with its legs substantially parallel to the legs of the frame II, the frame II is swung forwardly and upwardly until the two leg forming frames are disposed against the adjacent sides of the front frame I3, giving the compact condition of the chair, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

From this compact condition the chair can be returned to its chair forming condition by first swinging the leg forming frames out of the way of the front frame, swinging this frame downwardly and forwardly with a consequent upward and rearward swinging of the back frame I2 and then swinging the leg forming frames to the crossed over condition illustrated in Figure 1.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. In a folding chair, an inner leg frame and an outer leg frame, said leg frames being U- shaped and involving bight portions and legs having free upper ends, said leg frames being crossed and legs thereof pivoted together, hori- Azontal arms having rear ends pivoted to the upper ends of legs of said outer leg frame and forward ends, a U-shaped ground-engaging front frame involving a bight portion and legs having free upper ends pivoted to the forward ends of said arms, a horizontal U-shaped seat frame involving a bight portion and legs having free rear ends and forward ends, the forward ends of the legs of the seat frame being pivoted to the legs of said front frame at points spaced below said arms, and a vertical U-shaped back frame involving a bightI portion and legs having free lower ends, the lower ends of the legs of the back frame being pivoted to the legs of the seat frame at points adjacent to the rear ends of the legs of the seat frame, means pivoting the legs of said back frame to said arms at points on said arms spaced forwardly from the pivotal connections of the rear ends of the arms with the upper ends of the legs of the outer leg frame and spaced upwardly from the pivotal connection of the lower ends of the back frame legs with the rear ends of the legs of the seat frame, and means pivotally connecting the upper ends of the legs of the inner leg frame to said arms.

2. In a folding chair, an inner leg frame and an outer leg frame, said leg frames being U- shaped and involving bight portions and legs having free upper ends, said leg frames being crossed and legs thereof pivoted together, horizontal arms having rear ends pivoted to the upper ends of the legs of said outer leg frame and forward ends, a U-shaped ground-engaging front frame involving a bight portion and legs having free upper ends pivoted to the forward ends of said arms, a horizontal U-shaped seat frame involving a bight portion and legs having free rear ends and forward ends, the forward ends of the legs of the seat frame being pivoted to the legs of said front frame at points spaced below said arms, and a vertical U-shaped back frame involving a bight portion and legs having free lower ends, the lower ends of the legs of the back frame being pivoted to the legs of the seat frame at points adjacent to the rear ends of the legs of the seat frame, means pivoting the legs of said back frame to said arms at points on said arms spaced forwardly7 from the pivotal connections of the rear ends of the arms with the upper ends of the legs of the outer leg frame and spaced up- Wardly from the pivotal connection of the lower ends of the back frame legs with the rear ends of the legs of the seat frame, and forwardly declining links having front and rear ends, the front ends of the links being pivoted to the upper ends of the legs of the inner leg frame and the rear ends of the links being pivoted to said arms.

3. In a folding chair, an inner leg frame and an outer leg frame, said leg frames being U- shaped and involving bight portions and legs having free upper ends, said leg frames being crossed and legs thereof pivoted together, horizontal arms having rear ends pivoted to the upper ends of legs of said outer leg frame and forward ends, a U-shaped ground-engaging front frame involving a bight portion and legs having free upper ends pivoted to the forward ends of said arms, a horizontal U-shaped seat frame involving a bight portion and legs having free rear ends and forward ends, the forward ends of the legs of the seat frame being pivoted to the legs of said front frame at points spaced below said arms, and a vertical U-shaped back frame involving a bight portion and legs having free lower ends, the lower ends of the legs of the back frame being pivoted to the legs of the seat frame at points adjacent to the rear ends of the legs of the seat frame, means pivoting the legs of said back frame to said arms at points on said arms spaced forwardly from the pivotal connections of the rear ends of the arms with the upper ends of the legs of the outer leg frame and spaced upwardly from the pivotal connection of the lower ends of the back frame legs with the rear ends of the legs of the seat frame, and forwardly declining links having front and rear ends, the front ends of the links being pivoted to the upper ends of the legs of the inner leg frame and the rear ends of the links being pivoted to said arms, said links normally extending rearwardly from the inner leg frame legs with the rear ends of the links pivoted to the arms at points forwardly of the pivotal connections of the back frame legs with said arms.

4. In a folding chair, an inner leg frame and an outer leg frame, said leg frames being U- shaped and involving bight portions and legs having free upper ends, said leg frames being crossed and legs thereof pivoted together, horizontal arms having rear ends pivoted to the upper ends of legs of said outer leg frame and forward ends, a U-shaped ground-engaging front frame involving a bight portion and legs having free upper ends pivoted to the forward ends of said arms, a horizontal U-shaped seat frame involving a bight portion and legs having free rear ends and forward ends, the forward ends of the legs of the seat frame being pivoted to the legs of said front frame at points spaced below said arms, and a vertical U-shaped back frame involving a bight portion and legs having free lower ends, the lower ends of the legs of the back frame being pivoted to the legs of the seat frame at points adjacent to the rear ends of the legs of the seat frame, means pivoting the legs of said back frame to said arms at points on said arms spaced forwardly from the pivotal connections of the rear ends of the arms with the upper ends of the legs of the outer leg frame and spaced upwardly from the pivotal connection of the lower ends of the back frame legs with the rear ends of the legs of the seat frame, means pivotally connecting the upper ends of the legs of the inner leg frame to said arms, said back frame being tiltable rearwardly from a normally vertical position to a substantial horizontal position, and stops projecting laterally outwardly from the back frame legs at the lower ends of the back frame legs for engaging the undersides of said arms so as to prevent rearward tilting of said back frame beyond the horizontal position.

GUSTAF1 W. CARLSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,860,867 Matthews May 31, 1932 1,952,296 Taylor Mar. 27, 1934 2,591,284 Oden Apr. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,797 Great Britain 1903 741,959 France Dec. 20, 1932 758,386 France Nov. 3, 1933 

